Saturday Night Live (SNL) is winning the hearts and viewership of Generation Z by utilizing their younger cast members and bringing on relevant hosts and musical guests.
In the age of pop culture, streaming, and rapid meme turnover, staying relevant with younger audiences isn’t easy, and the people at SNL know social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and Youtube, capture their audience.
During most of the show’s 50-season run, their primary audience has been Generation X and older, with some younger generations not fully being able to relate with its format or humor. As of late however, there’s been a surge of love and attention from younger adults and teens online and an embrace of the show’s more hit or miss comedy.
“I feel like sometimes there’s a disconnect between younger and older generations on SNL,” says QUEST senior and former Corydon staff reporter, Rachel Vanderschan, who cites, “sketches aimed specifically towards the older generation” as to why her and other members of Gen Z don’t always resonate with what’s on screen.
Vanderschan notes how she’d loved to see “more of the younger writers take leading positions,” in the writer’s room, as she’s enjoyed the sketches they’ve had a heavy hand in writing.
In recent seasons, SNL has brought in cast members who reflect the humor, internet culture and digital fluency of Gen Z. Season 51 consists of 13 cast members, three of which classify as Gen Z; Marcello Hernandez, Jane Wickline and Kam Patterson.
Recent episodes have featured culturally relevant hosts and musical guests such as Mumford & Sons performing with host Connor Storrie, Heated Rivalry star, Cher appearing with host Ariana Grande, and A$AP Rocky alongside Finn Wolfhard.
The show has also welcomed major pop figures like Harry Styles, who hosted and performed as the musical guest, as well as appearances from Glen Powell with Olivia Dean.
For younger audiences who consume most entertainment through their phone, the digital circulation has made SNL more visible than ever.
By combining a younger cast with culturally relevant hosts and musical guests, Saturday Night Live is proving it can still adapt to new audiences and remain part of the pop culture conversation.
Sophia Romero • Mar 31, 2026 at 1:06 pm
As someone who has grown up watching SNL my whole life it is nice to see an article that explores the new takes that SNL is trying to bring to the show. I’ve noticed that SNL is trying to take a new direction with their work and catering to our generation, which is helping bridge the gap in the tradition of watching the show. I like how you pointed out newer cast members who are not only part of our generation but are creating a new buzz around the show, like Marcello Hernandez. I enjoy how SNL is creating more sketches catering to the newer generations, through trends or buzzwords it is now at the point where we are understanding and engaging in the jokes instead of struggling to understand the humor. While I love the new takes that SNL is having I hope it doesn’t lose its identity as a comedy show for younger adults. By having the traditional takes of SNL with the newer jokes being introduced it is able to keep both audiences engaged in the show and eager for the next episode. Overall, the article was well written and pointed out key figures and details which is marking a change in SNL’s content as it is now more understandable for younger viewers.
Audrey Lozano • Mar 31, 2026 at 10:49 am
As someone from Gen Z, I find this especially true, and I am glad someone wrote about it. To me, SNL has become increasingly entertaining, and I especially look forward to the guest segments of Weekend Update.
Daigle perfectly describes what it is that is appealing to younger people recently. Younger cast members (such as Marcello Hernandez, who never fails to be funny) have been writing the SNL skits that have been landing well with Gen Z. Previously, when I would try to watch some of the skits, the jokes made wouldn’t make total sense to me, and I was left feeling confused. I am glad that younger cast members are getting into writing the skits themselves.
I like how SNL brings on popular musical guests alongside other celebrities, such as actors or comedians, as mentioned by Daigle. It is nice to see some of my favorites present on the screen, and I am sure that this is also something that attracts more viewers to SNL.
Overall, this was a clear, well written article that I enjoyed viewing.
Addison Yoon • Mar 31, 2026 at 10:45 am
I appreciate how Daigle and Guzman illustrate the disconnect between Gen Z and the humor of SNL. I personally can attest to the fact that many Gen Z teenagers find SNL to be unfunny and lacking true personality. The use of quotes from Rachel Vanderschan is a great example of how most teens feel about the comedy show. However, I do also really enjoy how Daigle and Guzman gave more recent examples of how the show is now trying to get in tune with a younger audience. For instance, they have given examples of new Gen Z cast members, and culturally relevant hosts and musical guests. These figures are prominent in Gen Z culture and would definitely make more teenagers tune into the show; even if they didn’t find the skits hilarious. The way Daigle and Guzman end the article with a sentence reiterating how this content is circulating and becoming more popular through social media is a great way to remind the reader.
Liam Lee Balmeo • Mar 30, 2026 at 2:19 pm
I read this while perusing the latest articles of the Corydon, and both authors’ work has allowed me to realize the influence of popular comedy shows (including SNL) on my life and how I engage in the current cultural climate through outlets like this. Daigle and Guzman analyze the newfound interest in a show that uses new celebrities of the next generation and relatable topics such as the political climate, “Gen-Z slang”, and other appealing factors that are alluring to the next generation. As they discussed, “[T]here’s been a surge of love and attention from younger adults and teens online and an embrace of the show…[with r]ecent episodes have featured culturally relevant hosts and musical guests…[and] also welcom[ing] major pop figures”. Not only do they state compelling factors that attract a Gen-Z audience to engage in a media that once appealed to an older demographic, but this article builds upon the existing opinions of Gen-Z and explains why this new generation enjoys it. I applaud Daigle’s and Guzman’s dedication to this humorous and relevant subject, and I surely relate to the topics discussed as I too am a fan of SNL and the current improvements upon the writing and sketches that Gen-Z has brought to the table.
Ultimately, “SNL Attracting Gen Z” is a marvelous article that has led many, including myself, to appreciate the humorous shows and satire that encompasses and includes the new generations, extending beyond the original audience of Generation X and Millenials. I respect this article’s content and both authors’ intent behind this piece, as well as the lasting impact it has on the audience.
Ethan Ferry • Mar 30, 2026 at 11:20 am
On March 24, 2026, Nicole Daigle and Jordan Guzman wrote an article titled “SNL Attracting Gen Z.” In the article, the authors discussed how recently, Saturday Night Live has captivated the attention of younger generations by incorporating more relevant and popular topics and people into their sketches. Daigle and Guzman did an excellent job of highlighting the issue of keeping Gen Z’s attention and what Saturday Night Live is doing to solve that issue. Additionally, they describe the conflict and divide between the humor of younger and older generations on SNL through student quotes and by evaluating the history of SNL. The authors also provide many examples of stars on the show who are more targeted towards a younger audience, showing the significance to the younger viewership of SNL.
On the other hand, Daigle and Guzman could have provided more specific information to support their argument. When describing how SNL has started to target younger audiences, the authors could have given a more specific time frame for when this shift happened in order to solidify the reality of this change. Furthermore, the authors could have provided examples of sketches where younger audiences are targeted. Overall This was an excellent article covering how SNL has attracted the attention of Gen Z viewers.
Sophia Quezada • Mar 30, 2026 at 10:55 am
I resonated with the article’s exploration on the ever widening gap between the perspectives of new and old generations, and the way SNL has grown to be the bridge bringing them back together. I’ve grown up watching SNL with my dad, and I applaud SNL’s commitment towards remaining culturally relevant. The show uniquely blends satirical humor on politics and global events with performances by well-known pop stars. The fact that I can sit beside my dad and we both find ourselves laughing is a testament to the way SNL appeals to a wide array of audiences and perspectives. I particularly enjoyed the author’s mention of specific cast members, such as Marcello Hernandez and Jane Whickline, to further emphasize the way younger generations have stepped up into the world of comedy. I would’ve loved to see a further exploration into how these young comedians integrate pop culture with comedy through the mention of specific skits or monologues. Through the mix of musical performances by well-known artists and satirical humor, SNL maintains its status in the pop culture conversation, and I applaud the author’s integration of student perspectives and relevant examples to portray SNL’s grip on American pop culture. Well done!
Leroy Taylor • Mar 30, 2026 at 10:55 am
This article was very intriguing, the provided ideas within the disconnect between the younger and old audiences watching SNL is a very interesting detail to think about. I was also surprised to find out that only 3 of the cast members classify as Gen Z, though it doesn’t surprise me that those members, especially Marcelo Hernandez, have been the ones I’ve personally found to be particularly funny when watching SNL.
The inclusion of the way they acknowledge their reach through social media was very compelling. I personally have seen this a lot too, if I miss out on the show one week or am unable to watch it, without a doubt I’ll see posts and clips of the skit from that weekend all throughout the following week.
Overall this was a great article explaining in sufficient detail the change SNL is taking, allowing younger writers to take the stage to reach the rapidly growing Gen Z audience. Explaining in further detail with examples of special guests and new cast additions that have helped them do so.